Ursula...

It's open link night at  dversepoets.com so there 
is no subject and this is my contribution..

      

 Ursula moves items

from the grocery cart to the counter....

    ...expressionless...

 line behind her..solemn faces all

. until she opens  her mouth

Suddenly, loudly.stating emphatically:

"I've been waiting here for three long days!  

 Now.. finally!!"

 Our eyes meet, holding 2 long seconds,

I smile, reaction intuitive

Unsure of her accent 

I begin to imagine a life, 

...grew up in a small town...in Europe?

..playing on the beach looking for shells, 

doing chores 

....father out to sea..

Pretty school girl, dreams of

becoming a ballerina

perhaps witnessed soldiers fighting

 some distant war...brother among them

Tended wounded men alongside her mother

Then, a sudden loud guffaw

"Ha..hah!"

She looks at stunned others

..then back at me..

Eyes wide, reddish grey hair in curls

 held by a comb

Her gaudy blouse catches in her purse

murmurs under her breath 

opens it for her cash in a bundle,

Pays with another "ha-hah!" and grin

   Coral rings on her finger

match a wide bracelet

 Low black heels and generous figure 

reveal, well, some refinement

Diplomat's wife who served high tea?

or lady of the evening 

throwing tawdry soirees?

 or, secretary scribbling shorthand 9 - 5?

Irked people stare 

hesitant to say anything

She continues to rant of aisles,

merchandise rearranged

"I could have baked a cake, read a book,"

 she exclaims, "in the time I had to 

wait in this damn line?"

I do not take her seriously 

 "How's the arthritis today, Ursula?"

asks the cashier

Face morphing to scowl, she replies

with gusto "It's a bummer; 

wouldn't be so bad if he would lift a finger"

"I cook and slave,

 he's waiting for me to croak!

think I'll divorce his lazy - - - -!"

Another guffaw "Ha ha ah!"

"For all I care he can jump in the lake, 

 not good for a thing!"

Nods her head sideways

indicating where, 

then asks the girl, "Oh did you see the news 

about Prince Harry?

...now that's a hoot!" with a wink

"Thank ye kindly,

hope next time I don't have to 

wait a week!!"

I wanted to say thank you 

for mixing my day with spice

...audacious, friendly conversation

..lacking today

Eyes follow her out the door

.

I want to follow her, 

pick her mind

She looks back at me one last time,

...grinning ear to ear

\as if we have a secret,

\More places to go no doubt,

In the autumn of her life...

it's chapters an interesting read?

I can only guess the truth... 

we all have a story

Fahrenheit 451, why, yes

She might have been an author, 

a dancer

 or a duchess...or maid..

a vagabond....or.....maybe...

even a....

I wonder?

by klr